Hawke's Bay Herald. TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 1868.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 12, Issue 978, 15 September 1868, Page 2

Hawke's Bay Herald. TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 1868.

A reference to our telegraphic intelligence will shew that every effort that has been put forth to stay the departure of Major Fraser and his men has failed, ministers beiug apparently determiued on leaving this province without adequate protection, in order to carry out their own preconceived ideas. Mr. M'Lean aud Mr. Orrnond deuy that — looking at the relative number of the belligerents ou the West Coast, which is immensely iv favor of the Colonial forces — there is any real occasion for sending Fraser to Patea j while they insist strongly upon the necessity of his remaining at Wairoa or some other exposed point in this province — so long, at least, as the exprisoners, let loose by Mr. Stafford in pur midst, are known to assume & threatening aspect.

Whether the Government are acting upon better information than is possessed by members of the Assembly,-— or whether, as some say, they are pa-nic-stricken by the news of the late defeat, — we do not profess to know. It is sufficient for us that ministers would not yield one iota, that the force is already on its way from Wellington to Patea, and that the northern portions of Hawko's Bay are virtually left to their fate. A more foul wrong could not be perpetrated upon any community by . any Government. We have on our northern frontier a powerful enemy, armed to the teeth with the best weapons, and thoroughly conversant with their use, daily receiving reinforcements and with ample means' of knowing the strength or weakness of the settlers, exasperated by the manner in which they have lately been assailed, and with many imaginary wrongs of old rankling iv their breasts. They are within a day's march of either Wairoa or Poverty Bay, and both these places are left defenceless, Who shall

say what the consequeuces may not be ? Indeed, we do not hesitate to say that, much as the Government tempted the prisoners to escape from the Chathams, still more do they now hold out inducements to them to carry fire and sword into the outskirts of European settlement.